American Arab
Culture and Values
American Arabs are people who came from the Middle East or Africa, and their native language is Arabic. The main cultural feature of these people is collectivism and close relations between members of an extended family (Sue & Sue, 2016). This feature is both a strength and a weakness at the same time, as a person receives support from a family or his ethnic group, but at the same time may experience stress from high expectations for her or him. Another cultural feature is the ability to assimilate quickly, which helps the Arabs to graduate and gain leadership positions because of their hard work (Sue & Sue, 2016).
However, due to the predominantly patriarchal system in the family, the number of unemployed women is much higher(Sue & Sue, 2016). Also, the characteristics of psychology may be different due to the influence of the adherence of Islam; however, only 25% of American Arabs are Muslim (Sue & Sue, 2016). Nevertheless, the characteristics and values of American Muslims and Arabs coincide in many respects, for example, family priority, high level of social anxiety, closeness to discussing problems and the opposite-gender issues.
Historical and Socio-Political Background in the US
American Arabs began to migrate to the United States relatively recently, so there are only two waves. The first wave was in the after from 1875 until the Second World War, after the war of economic causes and conflicts in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel (Sue & Sue, 2016). After the terrorist attack of 2001, American Arabs and Muslims, who are hardly distinguished in American society, began to be more often accused of crimes and cause fear by other citizens as they linked their origin and appearance with terrorist groups (Sue & Sue, 2016).
Negative attitudes and prejudices in the twenty-first century have not actually diminished, since the attacks of Islamic terrorist groups are still a threat to the security of the United States and many other countries.
Systemic Changes Required
Bias and negative attitudes toward American Arabs as terrorists need meso and macro organizational and cultural changes. Although there is no formal restriction or prohibition in American society, American bias can also hinder the receipt of services and contribute to conflict situations. For example, American Arabs may be asked for more thorough inspections of their luggage and bodies at airports, although a scan or examination of a person of the opposite sex may not be acceptable for a person (Sue & Sue, 2016)
In addition, the association of all American Arabs with the actions of Islamic terrorist organizations was reflected in the minds of people. Consequently, organizational changes aimed at taking into account the culture and traditions of American Arabs, and cultural changes in their perception by society are necessary for the mental health of representatives of this ethnic group.
The Psychological Impact of US Cultural Hegemony
The standards and habits of American society, as well as stereotypes and prejudice, make many Arabs change or hide their habits. For example, many Arabs appear to be a more American-sounding name or change it in documents to conceal their religious and ethnic origin (Sue & Sue, 2016).
Others wear American clothes and try to get into American fashion (Sue & Sue, 2016). However, over the past decades, American Arabs have become more proud of their ethnic roots, so they openly wear traditional clothing and adhere to traditions. This fact arose due to intensified discrimination and prejudice, which cause opposition of American Arabs, as well as new waves of migrants who more often maintain their religious and cultural traditions (Sue & Sue, 2016). Also, many American Arabs accept both identities by celebrating holidays of both countries and wearing both types of clothes.
Jewish American
Culture and Values
Jewish Americans have many variations of cultural features depending on the degree of involvement in religion. There are Jews who observe the rules of Judaism from birth, people converted to Judaism, and Jews who follow the traditions of culture, but do not belong to Judaism religion. Only 19 percent of American Jews say that religious laws must be respected and fulfilled by a person who considers himself herself as a Jew (Sue & Sue, 2016).
A cultural feature of this group is the high value of the family, as well as pride in belonging to the community, a good sense of humor, and the desire for equality and justice (Sue & Sue, 2016). Orthodox Jews can be suspicious of therapy as for them problems can mean that they are “defective” (Sue & Sue, 2016). The traditional role of a woman as a keeper of a hearth can confront the real state of things, for example, homosexuality or infertility, by creating mental problems. However, all these features are individual and depend on the cultural believes of a person.
Historical and Socio-Political Background in the US
Jews experience discrimination, harassment, and persecution for centuries in many countries. These events caused their migration, and also reflected on their cultural identity. The Holocaust of the Second World War was one of the most tragic events for Jews and remains significant for today’s time, although it most often does not find reflection in American culture.
In addition, the reluctance of society to accept Jewish holidays and customs often caused conflicts when companies did not want to rearrange important events that are scheduled on holy days for American Jews. Thus, although there were no formal laws against American Jews in the United States, discrimination and prejudice influenced Jewish identity, which therapists must adopt in counseling today.
Systemic Changes Required
Absence of respect for the features of Jewish culture and religion creates conflicts and aggression in American culture against Jews, and organizational changes can help solve this problem.
Firstly, at the meso level, companies should establish a schedule that allows Jews to take a day off on traditional holidays, as well as on Saturday, since this is the day of holy Shabbat. Such measures can be taken at the national level; however, such a step can only strengthen the stereotype of the unlimited power of the Jews in the government (Sue & Sue, 2016). So minimal measures will help relieve pressure on American Jews who experience an unfair attitude to their traditions.
The Psychological Impact of US Cultural Hegemony
American cultural hegemony causes many problems for American Jews, regardless of their degree of religiosity and commitment to tradition. The most significant number of religious crimes in the United States is committed against Jews (Sue & Sue, 2016). Anti-semitism is expressed in various forms, from micro-aggression to violence, which can cause depressive states and interpersonal problems in American Jewish people.
The most common stereotypes are the assumption that Jews are too wealthy and have a lot of power in the US government (Sue & Sue, 2016). In addition, they do not worry about the society in which they live but only about themselves because of their greed (Sue & Sue, 2016). For this reason, Jews can often be excluded from socialization at schools and colleges and experience bias and even bullying. For this reason, some Jews have to hide their success and social status to avoid discrimination.
At the same time, American hegemony pushes American Jews into lower positions by preferring Christians to important tasks or eliminating recognitions of the merits or opportunities of the American Jews (Sue & Sue, 2016). Thus, direct aggression, micro-aggression, and discrimination affect the ability and emotional state of American Jews that experience unjust attitude toward them.
Africans
Culture and Values
The racial group of Africans in the United States is diverse. It is divided into African Americans, who have been part of American society since the time of colonization, and African migrants who have moved to the US in the 20th or 21st century. Spiritual practices and interaction with the environment are the main features of African culture, which forms their identity. According to Toldson, Anyanwu, and Maxwell (2016), “The spirit is an immaterial sentient part of Black persons, providing inward structure, dynamic drive, and creative response to life encounters or demands” (p.148).
In other words, Africans believe that the violation of harmony with the world is the cause of mental and physical illnesses; however, the degree of these beliefs varies. Therefore, this feature of African culture helps its representatives find support in spiritual practices, which reduces the likelihood of depression states.
Strong African family ties and community support are also key strengths of Africans. An extended family, in which both parents and children have flexible roles, is allowed to evenly distribute responsibilities and strengthen family interaction (Toldson et al., 2016). This approach creates a positive environment in which children receive the necessary knowledge and sufficient self-esteem to find harmony with their identity and origins in the future (Toldson et al., 2016).
Community bond is also vital as it helps to create a safe environment and reduce stress, as well as a permanent feeling of support in the fight against racial or social discrimination. Consequently, Africans have great resistance to depressive conditions, although such external barriers as prejudiced society or poverty are additional incentives for mental instability.
Historical and Socio-Political Background in the US
Most Africans have a genetic memory of slavery and discrimination. African Americans have a memory of the enslavement of their US ancestors and racial segregation, while the ancestors of the Africans who recently migrated to America were part of one of the colonial empires. Besides, some facts demonstrate that there were Black colonies on the American continent, even before the discovery of Columbus (Toldson et al., 2016).
However, most Africans arrived in the United States either during the slave trade or within the last fifty years because of wars, economic poverty, or political persecution (Toldson et al., 2016). Today, all US residents have legally the same rights; however, systemic inequality and discrimination of the Black population are still barriers to building a democratic and just country for everyone.
Systemic Changes Required
High levels of poverty among the African American population, courts, and the police prejudice against them, insignificant educational and working opportunities are problems that exist in the US today. The elimination of prejudice against African Americans as criminals or less educated and skillful people is possible only with time and a change in the cultural image of society (Toldson et al., 2016).
It is worth noting that these changes are already taking place, as there are many examples of African Americans in politics, science, and art. However, social equality also requires economic change, which can be achieved by providing educational opportunities and decent-paid jobs for people who strive for them. Over time, this will affect both the socio-economic level of African Americans and their image and racial stereotypes in American society.
The Psychological Impact of US Cultural Hegemony
African Americans experience different types of racism and unfair treatment in society. US cultural hegemony positions White Americans as the dominant race by giving them more opportunities. The experience of racial discrimination leads many African Americans to experience stress and depression and low self-esteem (Toldson et al., 2016).
On the other hand, the daily struggle against unequal attitudes strengthens Black identity and racial pride and helps Black people overcome stereotypes with self-irony and laughter as a defense mechanism. (Toldson et al., 2016). However, the experience of discrimination and the social position that it brings often has a more significant adverse effect on the mental health of African Americans.
Data on Substance Abuse Within the Community
The stereotypical view of people about African-Americans as criminals, drug dealers, and substance users have very little evidence and much more denials. Although some people resort to substance abuse to avoid symptoms of post-traumatic cider syndrome of discrimination, the overall level of substance use in the community is low (Toldson et al., 2016). Strong family ties, spiritual beliefs, and racial pride are protective factors against drug and alcohol abuse. Consequently, representatives of the Black community are less likely to suffer from alcohol or drug addiction.
References
Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse theory and practice (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Toldson, I. A., Anyanwu, K. C., & Maxwell , C. (2016). Counseling persons of Black African ancestry. In P. Pedersen, W. J. Lonner, J. G. Draguns, J. E. Trimble, & R. Scharrón-del Río María (Eds.), Counseling across cultures (7th ed., pp. 143–162). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.